Another interpretation: Why did He bless it [Shabbat]? Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Dostai and Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Dostai say: It is because it does not have a partner. Sunday has Monday [as its partner], Tuesday has Wednesday, Thursday has Shabbat eve. But Shabbat has no partner.39Therefore it required God’s blessing.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: It [the blessing of Shabbat] is in that it cannot be postponed.40It always occurs every seventh day. Festivals may be postponed,41The holy days are observed on particular dates in particular months, so their time is determined when the New Year and New Months are declared by the religious court. These courts are authorized to postpone these declarations in various circumstances.
Yom Kippur may be postponed, but Shabbat cannot be postponed. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: Shabbat said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, all of them [the other days] have partners, but I do not have a partner.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to it: ‘The congregation of Israel is your partner.’ When Israel stood before Mount Sinai, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘Remember the matter that I said to Shabbat: The congregation of Israel is your partner.’ That is the meaning of the statement in the Ten Commandments: “Remember the Shabbat day to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).